Flash-torch for photographers



UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

MILTON R. IIEMPERLEY, OF PHILADELPHIA, PENNSYLVANIA.

FLASH-TORCH FOR PHOTOGRAPHERS.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Fatent No. 460,33*?, datedSeptember 29, 1891.

Application filed December 8, 1890. Serial No. 373,884. (No model.)

T0 LUM/7mm if 7111.33/ concern:

Be it known that I, MILTON R. HEMPERLEY, a citizen of the United States,and a resident of Philadelphia, Pennsylvania, have invented certainImprovements in Flash-Torches for Photographers, of which the following'is a specification.

My invention consists of certain improvements in flash-torches, such asare used by photographers for interior or night work, and especially tothat class of flash -torches in which a cloud of the inflammable powderis blown onto a flame, whereby the powder is ignited and the flashproduced.

The objects of my invention are to provide for readily producing anumber of flashes in rapid succession; to cause dashes of uniformbrightness or strength; to insure the complete combustion of each cloudor discharge of the inflammable powder, and thereby produce the desiredvivid flash by the employment of a minimum quantity of the powder, andto provide a torch having the general qualities of compactness andconvenience. These objects I attain in the manner hereinafter set forth,reference being had to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l isa View of my improved iiashtorch, partly in elevation and partlyinlongitudinal section. Fig. 2 is aperspective view of the torch on asmaller scale. Figs. 3 and el are transverse sections on the line l 2,Fig. l, one of the parts being shown in a different position in Fig. tfrom that represented in Fig. 3.

A represents a reservoir or receptacle for the inflammable powder, whichproduces the flash by ignition, this receptacle being by preferenceformed with tapering sides leading to a contracted outlet a from thereceptacle into the tubular blast-pipe or stem B of the torch. Fittingover the front end of this stem is the tubular portion D of thedischargenozzle F, the outer end of the latter being preferablyliattened, so as to provide a contracted discharge orifice, from whichthe charge of inflammable powder can be ejected in the form of a compactcloud. Secured to or forming part of the discharge-nozzle is a cup orcasing G, which carries the igniting lamp or burner, the latterconsisting, mainly, of a spirally-coiled wick i of asbestus fiberorsimilar heat-resisting material, there being also, by preference, amass of this fiber surrounding the nozzle and filling the space betweenthe same and the innermost convolutions of the spiral wick.

In the use of the torch the Wick is saturated with alcohol and thelatter is ignited, so as to form a flame for igniting the cloud ofini-lame mable powder ejected from the nozzle F, the powder being thussurrounded on, all sides by the flame and being, in fact, dischargedthrough a mass of flame in front of the nozzle, so that the ignition andcombustion of every atom of the powder is insu red, and the desiredflash thus produced by the employment of a minimum quantityof thepowder. The saine result might be attained by the employment of aperforated cylinder of asbestus fiber or like material; but the use ofthe spirallycoiled wick is preferred, because, owin g to the free accessof air, it produces the maximum volume of iame, and it can, moreover.,be compressed by means of a cap or cover fitting on the casing G, so asto occupy less room when the torch is not in use.

Vithin the tubular blast pipe or stem l beneath the reservoir A is atube J, open at both ends and having a longitudinal slot b iu one side,this slot extending, preferably, throughout the length of the reservoir,as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l, and to the rear end of this tube Jis connected, by means of a short flexible tube d, an elastic bulb M,provided with the usual check-valve f at its outer end, so that oncompressing the bulb a blast of air is forced through the tube J,blastpipe B, and nozzle F. On turning the tube J in the stem B so thatthe slot b of said tube J registers with the contracted opening at thebottom of the reservoir A powderI is permitted to pass from saidreservoir into the tube .I until that portion of the tube which isbeneath the reservoir is filled with powder, as shown in Fig. 3, and onthen turning the tube J so as to carry its slot bout of line with thecontracted mouth of the reservoir, as shown in Fig. 4, the supply ofpowder in the tube is separated or cut off from the supply in thereservoir and constitutes a charge which can be blown from the stem E oncompressing the bulb M, the tube .I thus constituting a charging-valvefor the blast-pipe IOC) of the ltorch. Mounted upon the tube J is a ringor collar g, from which projects a frame K, preferably of bent wire,this frame projecting alongside of the bulb M and providing a rigidbearing for said bulb While the latter is being compressed, the frame Kalso facilitating the handling of the torch and the turning of the tubeJ. The extent of turning movement of said tube maybe limited by theengagement of a pin t' thereon with the ends of a slot 'm in the stem B,as shown by dotted lines in Fig. l. The tube J may in some cases beextended, so that its front end will constitute the blast-pipe. By thusproviding for successive charges from the main supply of powdercontained in a reservoir a number of dashes can be given in rapidsuccession, so that the subject which is being photographed can belighted from a number of different points, the ashes having, ifnecessary, the same intensity by reason of the uniformity ot' successivecharges, or, if desired, the successive charges may be varied in volumeby opening and closing the valve so quickly as to prevent the passage ofa full charge or by only partially opening the valve and then closingthe same.

Having thus described my invention, I claim and desire to secure byLetters Patent- 1. The combination,in a flash-torch, of the blast-pipewith an igniting-lamp in the form of a ring surrounding and projectingforwardly beyond the discharge end or nozzle of said blast-pipe, saidprojecting portion of the ring being exposed to the air, substantiallyas specified.

2. The combination of the blast-pipe of the torch with an igniting-lampin the form of a spiral wick surrounding and projecting beyond thedischarge end or nozzle of said blastpipe, substantially as specified.

3. The combination, in a flash-torch, of the reservoir for theflash-powder, a slotted tubular charging-valve free to turn in the lowerportion of said reservoir, a blast-nozzle at the forward end of saidtubular valve, an igniting-lamp in the form of an exposed ringsurrounding and projecting forwardly beyond said nozzle, and an elasticbulb connected to the rear end of the tubular valve, substantiallyaskspecitied. Y

4. The combination, in a dash-torch, of the blast-pipe and bulb with arigid frame extending alongside of the bulb and forming a bearingtherefor, substantially as specified.

5. rPhe combination of the reservoir and blast-pipe with the slottedtubular chargingvalve free to turn in the blast-pipe, the bulb connectedto said tube, and the rigid frame also connected thereto and extendingalongside of the bulb, substantially as specified.

In testimony whereof I have signed my name to this specification in thepresence ot' two subscribing Witnesses.

MILTON R. HEMPERLEY.

Witnesses:

HENRY M. BOYD, JOSEPH A. REED.

